Batch and Flow-Through Column Studies for Cr(VI) Sorption to Activated Carbon Fiber

The adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions to activated carbon fiber (ACF) was investigated using both batch and flow-through column experiments. The batch experiments (adsorbent dose, 10 g/L; initial Cr(VI) concentration, 5-500 mg/L) showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) to ACF was determined to 20.54 mg/g. The adsorption of Cr(VI) to ACF was sensitive to solution pH, decreasing from 9.09 to 0.66 mg/g with increasing pH from 2.6 to 9.9; the adsorption capacity was the highest at the highly acidic solution pHs. Kinetic model analysis showed that the Elovich model was the most suitable for describing the kinetic data among three (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich) models. From the nonlinear regression analysis, the Elovich model parameter values were determined to be ${\alpha}$ = 162.65 mg/g/h and ${\beta}$ = 2.10 g/mg. Equilibrium isotherm model analysis demonstrated that among three (Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson) models, both Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models were suitable for describing the equilibrium data. In the model analysis, the Redlich-Peterson model fit was superimposed on the Freundlich fit. The Freundlich model parameter values were determined to be $K_F$ = 0.52 L/g and 1/n = 0.56. The flow-through column experiments showed that the adsorption capacities of ACF in the given experimental conditions (column length, 10 cm; inner diameter, 1.5 cm; flow rate, 0.5 and 1.0 mL/min; influent Cr(VI) concentration, 10 mg/L) were in the range of 2.35-4.20 mg/g. This study demonstrated that activated carbon fiber was effective for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.